ATV VIN Number: How To Check and Decode

We completely understand that you do not want time memorizing your ATV VIN. Many of us might not even know that something like that exists. However, knowing where on your ATV the Vin is etched out might be extremely beneficial for you in the future.

You must ensure that your VIN is properly examined. VIn will ensure that you know all the details and specifications of your bike, where it has been manufactured, and most importantly, if it has been in an accident or stolen.

The VIN is your one-stop solution for checking for all these problems and ensuring you remain on top of them.  

What is the ATV Vin (Vehicle Identification Number)?

The ATV Vin is about 17 characters long and is etched on your ATV because it is somewhat of a code to your motorcycle. The VIN or the Vehicle identification number contains information on the manufacture details of your bike. It contains the year the model was built and related information.

Just the same way many of us have a social security number ourselves, consider that this VIN is the stamp of identity for your bike. It’s the same situation with cars. All cars also require VIN.

The VIN has an uncanny ability to appear in insurance cards, registrations, and all sorts of titles. This is why knowing exactly where it is on your bike becomes important.

The other advantage of the VIN is the security that comes with it. If you plan on selling your bike or buying a used bike, the VIN will tell you whether it has been in an accident, rebuilt, stolen, or any other relevant information.

The VIN is a long combination of numbers and characters, but for easy readability, it is divided into 3 sections- the first 3 characters, the next 6, and the last eight. Let us understand this sequence better.

The first 3 character represents the World Manufacturer Identifier.

The next 6 characters represent the Vehicle Description and explain the vehicle’s attributes through the manufacturer. The last eight characters tell you where the bike was manufactured and the ATV’s serial number.

The first character is going to be the country’s code.

• USA
• Canada
• S- England
• W- Germany.

The second digit is going to be the manufacturer. So that means that ‘Kawasaki’ will get a K, ‘And Honda’ will get an ‘H’.

The characters 4 through 9 are going to vary according to the manufacturer, but they are what contain information about the engine size, the engine type, and even the kind of model.

The 9^th digit/character contains the accuracy check and is like a double-check for the previous characters that the manufacturer authorizes.

The 10^th digit that you are going to see, is going to be the code of the year, the 11^th digit is the factory code and lastly, the 12^th to 17^th digits represent the serial number of the vehicle.

Where To Find ATV VIN?

So, now that you have an idea of the importance of the VIN and what it stands for, the next question is, where do you find it?

The VIN location is usually standard for almost all bikes and vehicles, and you can usually find it on the steering neck.

However, and this is something to be careful about, you can also find them on the motor, located near the cylinder.

You can easily locate it by turning the steering bar to the left, and where the steering head goes through the frame, you can easily spot the VIN serial number etched out beautifully.

One thing that you need to know is that the location of the VIN depends on the manufacturer, and every model will not have the same location for it.

If you are lucky, the VIN will be on the frame’s left side. In some vehicles, there are other areas for locating the VIN, usually through the slit in the plastic hood.

There are more difficult areas to locate the VIN, and this can usually be found in the tail section OR the left side of the frame, as mentioned before. There can also be other areas, such as close to the radiator or behind the wheel.

How to find Kawasaki ATV VIN Decoder

Kawasaki is one of the world’s oldest and most trusted manufacturers today, especially regarding ATVs. They have diversified and benefitted immensely from their foray into the motorcycle, ATVs, watercraft, and other utility vehicles.

Even though this company is one of the oldest, they are still trusted today because they have kept itself up-to-date with the latest trends and have consistently innovated its technology in its manufacturing lines.

Like all other ATVs, Kawasaki is too distinguished by a unique Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).

Regarding Kawasaki, you can locate the VIN on the steering head or the safety certification label, which is usually around the steering wheel or on it.

Kawasaki ATV VIN Decoder

If you are looking for the year of manufacture for the Kawasaki model, then once you have found the VIN, go to the 10th digit, which is your year indicator. This number will be any number between 1 to 9 OR A through Y (barring I, O, Q, and U).

For Kawasaki models, the years started with 1971, denoted by the number “1,” and then went all the way through 1979 until they reached 1980. Here is when they were represented by the alphabet “A” and then went back to “1”; in 2001 and again. “A”,

In 2010. For example- if your bike was made in 1994, they will see a registration number that says “R.”

There are a few benefits to knowing your Kawasaki VIN Number, and perhaps, the biggest benefit is when you are looking for Kawasaki in your sale ads.

You are entitled to ask for the VIN photo, decipher it, and then, based on that, make an informed purchase.

Even if you are going to a showroom and buying a new bike, do not hesitate to ask for the VIN code, as this is how you will find out if you are buying the bike from this year or previous editions.

There are a few other benefits to this:

• You can find out the type of engine and the type of fuel that is being used.
• The difference between the model year and the year of manufacture. (there is a difference
  between the two)
• You can also find out the style and make of the bike, the color of the bike, and the materials
  that are used in its manufacture.
• You can also keep the secret digit code handy (this will prevent any data loss from the code)

The Kawasaki Vin Decoder will take a few seconds to decipher the code and give you authentic information about the bike. If you want to test this out, you can change a few figures at the end.

If you are to do that, you will be told that it is a wrong entry you made and will instead give you information about another model. This is important to understand because, in the VIN decoder, every single character will make a difference.

Knowing the VIN code will also make the servicing process fairly easier because the VIN code is your access pass to buying only genuine material for repair. You can use the VIN code as often as you want because this service is free.

This bike was not produced for the American market if different characters could have characters like ZZZ or SSS.

Let us look at some of the samples of VIN(vehicle identification number) for Kawasaki.

• JKAEREH11HDA05764 — 2017 Kawasaki Z650 EX650HH (649 ccs), Motorcycle – Sport
• JKAEXEE11CDA05038 — 2012 Kawasaki Ninja 650 EX650EF (649 ccs), Motorcycle – Sport

Where to Find Yamaha ATV VIN Decoder?

Understanding Yamaha ATV VIN

In the case of Yamaha, the VIN usually starts with the letters JYA, which indicates that the manufacturers are from Japan.

Y stands for Yamaha, and A determines the vehicle type. These are the standard 3-characters that you will see with the Yamaha manufacturer.

If you see any other letters, especially if you are using a second-hand bike, use the VIN code decoder to check whether this is an authentic bike.

If you are buying a bike and the owner of that bike or a dealership gives you a different year than the one mentioned on the VIN decoder, then there is no reason to suggest that the bike is inauthentic.

The year in the code mentions the vehicle’s model year, not the year when it was manufactured.

How To Find The Yamaha VIN Location

The VIN Code is usually engraved on a metal frame on the non-removable parts of the vehicle. If you see any part of this code being scratched or in a different location, then we recommend not buying the vehicle, irrespective of the price. There are three main places where you can find the Yamaha VIN Code:

• The right side of the head pipe or the steering tube. Here, you can easily see shorter models for the bikes produced before 1982 and the 17-digit codes for those produced after that.
• The left side of the steering tube can also be used as a potential location for the VIN. You will also find a printed card with other important information on Yamaha vehicles. You will need only the Yamaha VIN Code and nothing else to find your bike’s authenticity.

The last place to look for the Yamaha VIN is on the case motor. This is usually located close to the clutch cover and the motor.

Some specific Yamaha models have their VIN on the left to right, while some are placed from front to back. You don’t have to worry about the location if you get your VIN decoded from an original VIN decoder. It will decipher it from anywhere.

Yamaha VIN

The information that you can get from the Yamaha VIN Decoder is as follows:

• The accident history of your Yamaha vehicle. This is important because it would be dangerous if your bike has been in a prior accident and you don’t know about it.
• There is something called Odometer readings. These odometer readings define how many miles your vehicle has gone through before coming to you. You can accurately compare the data from the odometer reading.
• Sometimes the manufacturer has called back the vehicle for any big or small defect. You must know about this vehicle recall.
• At the time of repossession, you should check whether there is any previous liability, which can sometimes become your burden to bear.
• The theft and recovery record part of the report will let you know if the bike has been stolen in the past.
• The vehicle specifications will also be mentioned in this VIN report. If the vehicle specs you generate differ from what you see, you can ask the whys and the hows.

Where to Find Suzuki ATV Vin Decoder?

You must know your ATV VIN to find your original Suzuki spare parts. The Suzuki VIN will give you the exact model and the year of manufacture.

Each make of the Suzuki Quad comes with its location of the VIN Number, and we will collate a few important locations of some of the more popular models to make your search easier.

The VIN location varies by year and model. For example- the Suzuki LTR 250 Quad Runner will have a different location than the Vinzon Z400, so having a guide for this is necessary.

Find Suzuki ATV VIN Decoder Number 

The most common locations for the Suzuki ATV Vin are on the rear frame and on the vertical bars, and if you can find it there, you should have no trouble.

Let us discuss other scenarios where you are not able to find your VIN:

• It is possible that your VIN is worn out or has been painted over. You can see this as a common occurrence on most second-hand ATV bikes.
• VINs are usually engraved so that the metal plate may have fallen off during corrosion or any other occurrence.
• Sometimes, in the manufacturing process or buying second-hand bikes, it is possible that your VIN was part of a frame that has been replaced.

Let us discuss some of the models and the possible locations for those models:

You will find the VIN on a metal plate that is usually right next to the frame, next to the kicker area, and clearly visible next to the plug.

Suzuki 250 Quad Runner

On the Quad Runner, you will find the VIN present mostly to the left of the rear cross member, or it is also possible that it is present on the right next to the vertical bar, closely located to the taillight.

Suzuki 700 King Quad

Easily one of the more popular models, you can find the VIN on this one close to the rear frame to the left, directly adjacent to the tire. 

Getting a VIN Check

Getting a VIN Check from a reliable service provider is a good idea to find your original Suzuki ATV VIN.

This will include the vehicle’s history, when and where it was titled and manufactured, any prior maintenance performed on the vehicle, theft history, manufacturing details, and so on.

Most people can avail of this service when they are buying a used bike or selling one.

Whether you are purchasing this from a private seller or buying it through a dealership, it is important for you to know the history of your vehicle to ensure that you are not purchasing a damaged or stolen vehicle.

A useful thing to remember when you are buying your ATV, especially if it is a 4-wheeler that has not been widely sold, is to check whether that particular model has been recalled at some point.

This is particularly useful when it is a bike that the manufacturer has recalled for a particular reason, and the location should be made available on the notices provided to the consumers at the time of release.

For example- there are a couple of models of Suzuki that have been recalled in the past, such as the Suzuki LT-A500F Vinson and the Suzuki LT-F500F Vinson, and the location was added in the release.

Where to find Honda ATV Vin Decoder?

Honda ATVs have a VIN that can be traced right back to the vehicle’s year of manufacture and, in many cases, until it can be traced back to the production line year and date.

If you are looking for information related to the type of vehicle, the engine style and make, and the year of manufacture, you will easily be able to do so after locating the VIN on the vehicle.

The VIN is a series of 17 characters/digits with a check digit that defines its authenticity and ensures no vehicle identification fraud, which is increasing in the US alone.

Understand Honda ATV VIN Decoder Number 

If you are looking to find the VIN on your Honda ATV, you will want to look at the frame near the bottom. As mentioned before, this is a 17-digit number.

Let us look at the distribution of these characters and how you can understand them better.

The first 3 digits are generally meant for the World Manufacturer’s number. The World Manufacturer Number is the ISO-certified and compatible Manufacturer Code that is embedded along with the rest of the VIN Number.

The first digit is what denotes the country of origin. If the original or the first number is 1, it was manufactured in the US. In another example- if it contains the character ‘J,’ then it was manufactured for and in Japan.

In this case, the second digit will symbolize the manufacturer, Honda, with an H. The following digit will be the vehicle type (Snowmobile, All-Terrain Vehicle, etc.). This will be symbolized by a 3 or a 5, depending on the type of vehicle.

For example, it could also have an M symbolizing the motorcycle division.

The next 5 characters on your Honda vehicle will be assembled as a group, and they symbolize the Vehicle Description Section in addition to representing the details of the series, the manufacture details, the model type, the engine make and style, and so on.

The ninth digit is the check digit that we have spoken about earlier. This digit is supposed to be treated as a lone number.

It has been specifically designed to protect against any vehicle identification fraud, and this is the number that can be traced back to the manufacturer, in the case of Honda.

You need to identify and locate this number, as this is perhaps one of the most important digits representing the authenticity of your vehicle.

The 10th digit, in this case, is representative of the year of manufacture.

Ever since 2000, it has been a number, and before 2000, it was represented by a character or a letter. If you look at a model such as the 1997 or the 1998 version, it will have a W as a symbol.

The 11^th digit is what represents the plant where your vehicle was birthed.

This is an important number. To give you a few specific examples, the letter A represents Honda’s Ohio factory, E is the factory in Spain, K is the Japanese factory, and 4 is the South Carolina manufacturing plant.

This one is the last, we promise. The last 6 digits are what will define the vehicle’s production sequence that will be unique to the model you are going to purchase.

This is as important as any of the other characters because this is how you will know if your vehicle was called away from the production line in case of an accident or if there has been a product recall before your purchase.

Where to find your Polaris ATV Vin Decoder?

Have you ever wondered when the first all-terrain vehicles were manufactured? It was back in the year 1985. A lot has changed since then.

Today, several manufacturers compete for a share of the market and almost 1.2 million dedicated, proud ATV owners.

The easily most recognized model has been the Polaris Sportsman. Produced and manufactured in style, this has held the market by storm for decades now. This is why it is necessary to know whether you are buying an original Sportsman.

To do that, each Polaris vehicle has about 17 characters in the form of the Vehicle Identification Number. This is what contains the specifications of the car.

How Do You Tell The Year of a Polaris ATV by VIN Number?

The 10th Character in the VIN format represents the Polaris ATV model year.

If you want to find out where your Polaris VIN is, you will need to look at the engraved or stamped number on the left-side frame rail. It would be advisable to look at the front wheel on the left side, which will be adjacent to the fender.

While you are doing this, it could be advisable to keep a flashlight and a brush with you so that you have no trouble spotting its location.

Once you can write down the code or take a picture of it, you can use a reliable VINCHECK to decode your Polaris VIN.

You can use the decoder to find out the entire code, or in case you know how to decipher certain characters, you can also use a VIN Check for that.

One thing that becomes quite easy with Polaris is that it will always have 1 to 4 as the first character since it was produced in North America.

If X follows it, then it has been made for USA drivers. The engine type, manufacturing details, and other information about the safety apparatus can be found by looking at the other characters.

Where to find your Polaris ATV Vin Decoder

The Polaris VIN decoder is going to give you the benefit of a lot of things. You can easily:

• Find out your engine’s power, the engine type, the number of cylinders, and any other technical considerations you might be looking for.
• The type of transmission is an important discovery to make. You can easily find out the type of transmission, that is, whether it is manual or automatic. You can then make an informed choice about whether you want manual or automatic, depending upon your choice of comfort.
• The safety equipment the Polaris has come with can be found by decoding the VIN Check. Checking things like the fuel gauge, the safety belts, and the material depth can all be found through the decoder.
• The vehicle’s model year is important since it differs from the manufacture date.

Polaris VIN Location (Polaris atv engine serial number lookup)

A few things have been going around ATV circles, such that the Polaris VIN Decoder does not contain accurate information about the transmission type on the vehicles, especially with the latest production line.

We assure you that this is not true, and you can make your own informed choice by double-checking the VIN codes from the different possible locations on the body of the vehicle.

If you do not heed the benefits of having a VIN decoder, then it could be dangerous, especially if you are going for a second-hand vehicle.

You might face unwanted complications in the future when it comes to changing the parts because the VIN would have contained all that information.

Some examples of Polaris VIN

• 4XASXM958HA628332 — 2017 Polaris Sportsman (952CC)
• 4XAZX55A8AA767857 — 2010 Sportsman XP(1-up) 550 XP-EPS (550 cc)

How to tell what year a Polaris ATV Is?

The year can be identified from VIN from its format. The 10th Character in the VIN format represents the Polaris ATV model year.  Below are the codes that can be referred to for the Model year.

Model Year Character Codes

FAQs

Conclusion

So, now that you know everything that you need to know about the VIN and perhaps a little more information than you anticipated, you will be able to understand the benefits of the ATV VIN.

Especially when you are planning to re-sell your vehicle or buy a used ATV, the VIN will be your seal of trust. The VIN will contain all the information you need for it to be an informed purchase.

There are several reasons for producing the VIN and for learning how to decode the VIN.

You must emphasize this when making your purchase, whether a new-hand purchase or a second-hand purchase, as this will ensure that you get exactly what you are paying for.

This is especially something you should care about regarding online sales. If you are getting a bike without the VIN registration number, it would be advisable not to go in for that purchase.

We hope this gave you a comprehensive understanding of the importance of knowing your vehicle’s VIN and where you can find it.

You need to be particularly cognizant of this when buying a second-hand bike, and it is always better to double-check the VIN Location and the model details to ensure that you are not cheated.